About Blessed Are the Meddlers:
The first time you met Sydney Alexander, she was a bonafide train wreck in all things dating. Now that’s happily married, she’s acquired a bit of an Emma complex and started playing serial matchmaker. So will her quest to help her friends find love be successful? Hmmm, you gotta read to find out.

Read the full book review here!

As often as possible, I’m going to post things that I’m grateful for. Some may seem silly, some will be serious, but I pray all will bring glory to God.

I invite you to join me! Simply post a comment below to join in.

Today I’m grateful for:

Dreams. Yesterday, Diana and I had the pleasure of interviewing 2 amazing guests on our podcast. The first, Dr. Jeffrey Spencer talked about we achieve success in life. He said that he believes many of us don’t dream big enough.

Our second guest, Joy Ike, is a corporate business woman who quit her job to follow her dream of singing. She took a huge risk to follow her dreams and now she’s living life to the fullest.

It was an amazing hour that made me think, re-evaluate and, in the end, realize just how grateful I am for a God who allows us to DREAM BIG and who does amazing and wonderful things through us - no matter that we don’t deserve it.

Sydney takes on the challenge of matchmaking for a few of her friends including her boss, Lucinda. As she becomes confident in her set-up abilities, she even takes on the role of “Lucy for the Lovelorn,” a syndicated column that could take her career to new heights.

In the midst of it all Samantha, Sydney’s sister, is going through a relationship crises. Well, more like a relationship melt-down. Sydney tries to give her advice, but Samantha soon realizes that she must make the decision for herself - follow her heart and see where it leads.

Sydney’s matchmaking talents rival those of another beloved heroine, Jane Austen’s Emma. And just as Emma eventually comes to the conclusion that meddling rarely changes things for the better, Sydney must learn some lessons through a few matchmaking disasters.

I thoroughly appreciated Banister’s humor and writing style in her first novel, Around The World in 80 Dates, and Meddlers is made up of the same stuff. The story is well-told and filled with compelling characters. Sydney’s experiences made me laugh, made me cry and above all reminded me that giving advice is not always as simple as it might seem.

In the back of the book, readers will find a readers guide, Sydney’s Recommendations For Life’s Little Circumstances and a list of resources for those who want to be a part of promoting music education (as Sydney’s husband discusses in the book).

Shelley is a world traveler and pop culture junkie with an incurable addiction to designer handbags. She knows the value of a relationship with a gracious God and loving friends and writes books about fun and faith–with a side of glamour. Between books, Shelley loves traveling, playing the piano and Celtic harp, watching movies, and making period costumes.

Meet Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry – two friends homesteading along the banks of the mighty

Tom and Huck look forward to owning their own land, building a home and opening Huck’s Jerkyland and Tom’s Tax Preparation.  But everything changes when they meet a mysterious stranger who is on the run and trying to find his mama.  Will Huck and Tom risk losing all they’ve worked for in order to help someone they hardly know? Find out in this exciting river rescue that reminds kids of the importance of helping others.

My kids really enjoyed the story and I, of course, enjoyed the fact that they were learning as they were watching. This particular movie’s lesson was about helping others and it made it easy to talk to my kids about why it’s important to help others and ways that they can apply this to their daily lives.

And, I’d hate to leave out my favorite part … the new Silly Song, The Biscuit of Zazzamarandabo.  :)

God Gave Us Heaven

Little Cub awakens one morning with some important questions on her mind: What is heaven like? How do we get there? Will we eat in heaven? Will we be angels?

During a delightful day spent wandering their arctic world, Papa gently answers each question, assuring Little Cub that heaven is a wonderful place, “a million times better” than she can imagine. He explains how God has made a way for those who love him to enter their heavenly home forever after their lives on earth are over.

Reuniting the best-selling author-illustrator team from God Gave Us You, this gentle story provides satisfying answers for a young child’s most difficult questions about heaven. Parents, grandparents, childcare professionals, librarians, Sunday school teachers, and others will appreciate the gentle approach to a topic that’s on the minds of so many “little cubs.”

Through captivating, full-color illustrations and tender, biblically sound storytelling, young readers and those who love them will find reasons to rejoice in knowing that God Gave Us Heaven.

Author Bio: Lisa Tawn Bergren is the award-winning author of nearly thirty titles, totaling more than one million books in print. She writes in a broad range of genres, from adult fiction to devotional. God Gave Us Heaven is Lisa’s fourth children’s book, following in the tradition of the best-selling God Gave Us You. She makes her home in Colorado, with her husband, Tim, and their children, Olivia, Emma, and Jack.

———————————————————————-

God Loves Me More Than That, and When God Created My Toes

In two new books from best-selling children’s author Dandi Daley Mackall, clever rhymes and delightful illustrations help young children, ages three and up, understand God’s huge love for them and his joy in creating them. These enchanting picture books from the writer-illustrator team of Dandi Mackall and David Hohn will instill awe in young children as they revel in each page. Parents alike will appreciate the engaging stories that communicate God’s perfect plan and his divine purpose for little hearts.

In God Loves Me More Than That, children learn that God loves them deeper than a wishing well, wider than a semi-truck, louder than thunder, and softer than a kitten’s sneeze. Each question, presented with charming child-like faith will help young ones grasp the great love of God through comparisons and descriptions they can easily understand. In short, they’ll discover that His love is bigger, wider, higher, and deeper than anything they could imagine!

In When God Created My Toes, kids are drawn into the wonder of their creation by God. Their masterful artist who fashioned them just right for amazing and delightful adventures, such as roller skating, finger-painting, doing flips, and drinking cocoa. Children will come to an understanding that God shaped each part of their amazing bodies with joy, delight, and humor.

Author Bio: Dandi Daley Mackall has published more than 400 books for children and adults, with more than 3 million combined copies sold. She is the author of WaterBrook’s two other delightful Dandilion Rhymes books, A Gaggle of Geese & A Clutter of Cats and The Blanket Show. A popular keynote speaker at conferences and Young Author events, Mackall lives in rural Ohio with her husband, three children, and a menagerie of horses, dogs, and cats.

As He tends to do, God uses this bad situation to bring Ana together with a group of girls (Riley included) who, like her, are living their second chance at life. Ana realizes that they have brought together for a purpose, but she must now convince the other “Miracle Girls” - maybe not Riley - that their friendship is meant to be.

I really enjoyed Miracle Girls and am already looking forward to the next book in the series. This is the type of novel that is timeless, that I’ll want my daughter to read when she hits her teens (or tweens). I look forward to the day when I can share my love of reading - and clean, godly books like this one - with her.

Woodley is open and honest in the book, sharing how he himself came to the place in life where he realized his spiritual life needed to be shaken up. God led Woodley to read the words of some of the prophets of the Bible - all of them considered fools at some time (or all the time) during their ministry. And yet, through the words of godly men like Hosea, Ezekiel and Paul, Woodley began to see more clearly what God desires from His followers. Thus began his journey to becoming a “holy fool.”

Who would want to be considered a “fool?” you might ask. The answer is given on the very first page:

Only a fool would attempt to change the world with a simple message of love and peace. So we can conclude that Jesus was a fool. Only fools would agree to follow such a man. … So we can conclude that all of us are fools. … So let all happily admit that we are fools. The we will happily commit ourselves to change the world.

Saint John Chrysostom
(pg. vii, Holy Fools)

]]> http://cwahm.com/wordpress/2008/cwahm-blogs/jills-blog/book-review-holy-fools-matthew/feed/ http://cwahm.com/wordpress/2008/cwahm-blogs/jills-blog/join-chat-hbwmcoms-lesley-spencer/ http://cwahm.com/wordpress/2008/cwahm-blogs/jills-blog/join-chat-hbwmcoms-lesley-spencer/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:19:01 +0000 jill http://cwahm.com/wordpress/?p=1860 This week’s CWAHM Network show featuring HBWM.com’s Lesley Spencer Pyle will air at NOON EST/11 CST/ 10 MST/9 PST. Click to listen.

Or click / copy and paste the link below:

http://www.Blogtalkradio.com/stations/bc/cwahm/2008/08/19/HBWMs-Lesley-Spencer-Pyle-

And do not forget, if you want to chat with us live, be sure to click on “LIVE CHAT”. We’d love to have your questions, comments, etc!

Home-Based Working Moms™ is a professional association and online community of parents who work at home and those who would like to. The founder, Lesley Spencer Pyle, started HBWM in 1995 out of her deep desire to spend more time with my two children.

As David and I were waiting to adopt our baby, we felt excitement because she would be coming into our home. But, we also felt stressed.

In one of my quiet times with the Lord, a verse ministered to me:

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.”

There are many “cares” that come with adoption. Will our birthmother change her mind? Will the baby be healthy? Will we bond? How long will it take before a birthmother picks our profile? What if she comes back a year from now and has changed her mind? Will the birthfather sign the papers?

There are so many questions and usually plenty of time to…well…worry.

But this verse is powerful.

Casting all our cares…what exactly is the Lord trying to tell us?

The word cast in the Greek is epiripto. This word pictures the flinging of a garment, bag or excess weight off the shoulders of a traveler and onto the back of some other beast, such as a donkey, camel or horse.

Our bodies were not meant to carry worry and anxiety. The Lord wants us to boldly fling all the cares we have concerning our adoption and heave it onto His shoulders.

He cares for us. He cares about the little things, such as when should we buy a car seat or fix up the nursery, to the bigger things of how are we ever going to pay for this adoption?

He has it all under control.

David and I decided to allow the pressures we were feeling, to bring us to a new level of friendship with Jesus. He wanted to carry all our concerns. He has big shoulders and arms that will wrap around us to hold us tight.

Oh, the joy David and I felt as we held Anna Beth for the first time. She was 3 days old and had just been released from the hospital.  She arrived at a friend’s home, brought there by her birthmother and birth grandmother. We had pre- arranged for them to bring Anna Beth to us from the hospital, so they would not have to give her up to our attorney in the hospital.

Upon their arrival, we got acquainted with our new baby and loved on her birth family. Then, our friends led us in a dedication service, promising to raise Anna Beth in a Christian home. Her birthmother held her during the ceremony. At the end, she handed Anna Beth to David, hugged us all and she and her mom headed out the door.

It was hard. The mixed emotions we felt were joy for us and deep sorrow for them. Again, we had to give our emotions to the Lord. The anxiousness we felt for our birthfamily, we flung onto Jesus. We knew He would comfort and take care of them.

What a great, compassionate God we love! As you go through your adoption process, remember to cast your cares on Him, for He truly does care for you!

About The Author:
Sandra Stanford is co-writing a book on parenting adopted children with Kathy Firkins. Visit Sandra’s adoption blog: www.sandrastanford.wordpress.com

The second book in the series, Sassy Cinderella and the Valiant Vigilante, was voted book of the year by American Christian Fiction Writers.

You can read more about Sharon and her books at www.sharondunnbooks.com

She has given up on trying to keep the dust bunnies out of her house. Instead, she intends to turn then into pets and let go of the dream of a clean house. Sharon squeezes writing into her schedule in between a part time job, carting three kids to activities and helping her husband find things around the house.

As often as possible, I’m going to post things that I’m grateful for. Some may seem silly, some will be serious, but I pray all will bring glory to God.

I invite you to join me! Simply post a comment below to join in.

Today I’m grateful for:

All the amazing moms and women God has placed in my life:

- I’m grateful for the encouraging emails I get from CWAHMs - God seems to always bring them when I need them the most.

- I’m grateful for the amazing women that I have the chance to interview. I have learned SO much from talking with them - each and every one.

- I’m grateful for other women who want to make a difference. One example that comes to mind is a dear friend of mine, Sharon Hinck. She has a new blog encouraging women to do a small kind act for a different person each day. During the 30 days of September, they are going to do set a goal to do these small kind acts.  Sound fun? Sound scary? Sound impossible?  I’m taking the challenge! Join me here!

- I’m grateful for each woman who visits this website. I pray daily that God will use this website as a blessing and a launching place to truly help women find a way to work from home. I’m praying that He will continue to grow the website and provide even more ways and ideas to help moms. Will you join me in prayer? I would be sincerely grateful.

Thelma is offering a webinar that will air online each Tuesday in September. It’s only $25 and comes with an e-workbook. I’ve already signed up and I hope some of you will join me!

Learn more about Thelma’s webinar - here is some info from her website:

Drop me a line if you do decide to sign up and we can meet after the sessions and chat about what we’ve learned! :)

Author Paula Friedrichsen sheds light on a subject most women only share in a secluded corner of a noisy deli over a strong cup of coffee. Paula found herself in a situation most women don’t easily talk about. She was attracted to another man, her own pastor at the time, no less.

Paula shares in her book, The Man You Always Wanted is the One You Already Have, how she ultimately discovered she was married to the right man—the one she chose to want. She takes us through the essential process of wanting the man we’re married to.

Allowing our husbands to shelter us in the storms of life, forgiving them when they have hurt us, and reveling in what she calls a comfortable love that society too often finds unexciting and mundane is ideology she adheres to.

At one point Paula refers to signs in her hometown that state, “Don’t feed the bears.” She uses that admonition as a reminder to not feed ‘the bears,’ men other than our husbands. Moreover, she teaches us how to emotionally feed our bear, our husband, and leads us back to our first love, that big lug that sleeps next to us.

About Thelma:

In 1980 Thelma became the first black woman in the South to organize her own international speaking and consulting corporation. Her natural talent for public speaking and storytelling attracted the attention of the Women of Faith Tour, and in 1996 she became the first black core speaker for the organization. She has authored several books, including her latest God Is Not Through With Me Yet.

After college, she married and moved to California where she had two children and settled into a job at a local computer company. Although she had done everything the world expected, she was still miserable. She hated her job and her marriage was falling apart.

Still searching for purpose, adventure and true love, she spent her late twenties and early thirties doing all the things the world told her would make her happy, and after years, her children suffered, her second marriage suffered, and she was still miserable.

One day, she picked up her old Bible, dusted it off, and began to read. Somewhere in the middle, God opened her hardened heart to see that He was real, that He still loved her, and that He had a purpose for her life, if she’d only give her heart to Him completely.

Her current releases in the Legacy of The Kings Pirates series include:The Restitution, The Reliance, and The Redemption

We’re launching a series of teleseminars to give you an edge in marketing and growing your business!

We’ve put together “Teleseminar Packages” so that you can purchase more than 1 at a time and save some money! Click HERE to learn more!

The teleseminars will be held every three weeks on the following topics:

* Press release Writing - Article Writing (7/30 - DONE!)

* Blogging / Newsletters / Social Networking (8/20)

* Marketing - Part II - “Out of the Box” Promotional Ideas, Other Marketing Tips, Direct Mail, Online Marketing, and more

* Choosing a Business / Telecommuting — Types and businesses & What’s Right for You

* Business Basics — Business Nuts and Bolts — Licensing, Taxes, Bookkeeping, and more

* Success Tips — An entire segment dedicated to Do’s and Don’ts to Running a Successful Business

* Interviews with other successful CWAHMs

* Working at Home w/ Kids - 20 Foolproof Ideas & ” Balancing Life, Family and Your WAH Business

* Recruiting 101

* Creating Your Own Opportunity - don’t wait for the right opportunity to come to you - create your own success!

* Disaster Preparedness - Backing up your computer, etc.

* Your Questions and Answers – Jill and Diana answer your questions.

_{NOTE: These are subject to change as necessary.}

Join us LIVE on Tuesday (11am CST) for a chat with Women of Faith’s Thelma Wells!

In 1980 Thelma became the first black woman in the South to organize her own international speaking and consulting corporation. Her natural talent for public speaking and storytelling attracted the attention of the Women of Faith Tour, and in 1996 she became the first black core speaker for the organization. She has authored several books, including her latest God Is Not Through With Me Yet.

JOIN US LIVE!

Barbara Gangi’s career as a producer began in the advertising industry working on major campaigns for clients including Bristol-Myers, Mazda Motors, ABC Television Network, Kal Kan Pet Foods and Sea World. She has won numerous awards including two of the coveted CLIOs for her work as Executive Producer for agencies such as Foote, Cone & Belding, Grey Advertising and Chiat Day.

Following her career in advertising, she worked in development with an Australian-based film company UAA Films (War Games, Quigley Down Under). She then moved to the music side of the business working as a producer/representative for MBZ Music (”We Are the World”).

Ms. Gangi is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Producer’s Guild of America (PGA) and the International Documentary Association (IDA). In addition, she is a founding member of Catholics In Media Associates (CIMA), has served two terms as President and is currently on the CIMA Board of Directors.